Fence-machine.



FENCE MACHINE.

APPLIGATIOIY FILED JAN.8,1906.

WITNESSES.-

B 1 I I I run NORRIS PETERS 0a., WASHINGTON, n. n.

EIIZIIZZZZWZfiW/ggll [NI ENTOR ATTORNEYS PATENTED APR. 16, 1907.

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No. a50.34a.

E. W. GHANNELL. FENCE MACHINE. APPLICATION 31mm JA N.8,'1906.

' HUM THE NORRIS PETERS,cD-, WASHINGTON, a. c.

I, I "I" No, 350.343.- PATENTED'APR. 16, 1907.

E. W. cHAiINBLL. FENCE MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8, 1906- 10SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WIT/M55553: Emma l A TTORNE Y5 Tn: NORRIS FETIRS rev, WASHINGTON, 0. c4

, BATENTED APR. 16, 1907. E.- W. CHAN-HELL.

FENCE MACHINE. A2 PLIGATION FILED 1128,1906.

1o sums-5111mm 5.

A TTORNE Y5.

No. 850,343. I PATENTED APR. 16. 1907. E. W. GHANNELLI FENCE MACHINE.APPLICATION FILED JAN .8,1906.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

- WITNESSES: [NVENTOR W By "/4 M. r 'ATTORNEYS I ms NORRIS PETERS co.,wnsmuamn. 0.1:.

PATENTED APR. 16,: 1907.

E. W. GHANNELL. 'FBNGE'MAGH-INB. APPLICATION FILED IAILB. 1906.

ATTORNEYS WITMESSES:

m: Noam: Psfns co WASHINGTON. n. c,

No. 850,343. 7 PATENTED APR. 16, 1907.

E. w. GHANNELL.

FENCE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAI I. B. 1906.

10 BHEETS-SHBET 9- A TTIORNE Y5 m: uonms PETERs co., wasnmumn. n. c."

E; W. GHANNELL.

FENCE MACHINE.

APPLICATION rum) JAN.8,1906.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 10.

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EMMETT WICKLIFF CHAN NELL, OF LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA.

FENCE-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

latented April 16, 1907.

Application filed January 3,1906. Serial No. 295172.

To cLZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMMETT WICKLIFF CI-IANNELL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Lake Charles, in the parish of Calcasieu and Stateof Louisiana, have invented a new and useful Fence-Machine, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to machines of that general class known asfence-looms and employed for the manufacture of picket or wire-and-slatfences wherein longitudinal strands of wire are twisted around orbetween spaced pickets.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a machine in whichall of the operations, including the feeding of the pickets, thetwisting of the wires, and the take-up, are entirely automatic andinwhich provision is made for accurate adjustment of all of thepartsinorder to insure uniformity of the product.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved twistingmechanism through which a suitable length of wire to be twisted is fedand the twister-head advanced to a point close to the last picketintroduced in order that the twisting operation may commence immediatelybelow or to the rear of the picket, the twister-head graduallyretreating as the twisting operation progresses, so that the twist willbe uniform between adjacent pickets, and both the front and the rearedges of each picket will be firmly bound and held in place.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel means forclamping and holding the pickets and for insuring the retention of thewire in proper position around the pickets during the twistingoperation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel form oftake-up mechanism or feed that operates on the successive pickets andaccomplishes uniform feeding movement without regard to slightvariations in the width of the pickets.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel form oftwister-head which may be quickly adjusted or renewed when worn fromconstant use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel form oftake-up mechanism for rolling the finished fence and to so construct thesame as to insure automatic adjustment of the mechanism as the diameterof the roll gradually increases.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a saw for trimmingthe ends of the pickets after the twisting operation and to so arrangeand mount the saw as'to enable it to accomplish its work with the leastpossible wear. A still further object of the invention is to improve andsimplify the picket-feeding mechanism and to so arrange the machine thatlarge quantities of pickets may be dumped in feeding position andautomatically carried in consecutive order to the twisting mechanism.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafterappear, the invention consists in certain novel features of constructionand arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims, it bein understood that various changes in the form,proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be madewithout departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantagesof the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of awire-fence loom constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 isa plan view of the same, the view being partly in section and the upperportion of the mechanism being wholly omitted for the sake of clearness.Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the machine looking from the right ofFig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the machine on the line 4 4of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the inner face of the maingear-wheel, showing a portion of the mechanism through which movement istransmitted to the main gear, the view being in section on the line 5 5of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1looking from the opposite side of the main gear-wheel. Fig. 7 is avertical section of' the main take-up, the section being taken on theplane indicated by the line 7 7 of Fig. 4. Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11 aresectional views illustrating in elevation the controlling and timingcams for the various operations. Fig. 12 is a sectional view, on anenlarged scale, of the upper portion of the mechanism, showingparticularly the twisting and clamping devices in the positions assumedimmediately after the picket has been fed into the shed. Fig. 13 is asimilar view, somewhat more in detail, showing the position of the partsimmediately after the completion of a twisting operation. Fig. 14 is asectional view taken at a point in advance of the twisters and clamps.Fig. 15 is a plan view of the clamp guiding and supporting bracket atthe entrance end of the shed, showing the adjustable picket-guides. Fig.16 is a detail elevation of one of the clamping-bars, showing thewiregroove. Fig. 17 is a detail plan view of one of the twisters. Fig.18 is a plan view of one of the spool-carrying shafts, taken on the line18 18 of Fig. 12, showing the twisting devices for the wire. Fig. 19 isan elevation of the cam for controlling the movement of the take-upfingers. Fig. 20 is a plan view of the mechanism employed fortransmitting movement to the picket-elevator.

Similar numerals of reference are em ployed to indicate correspondingparts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The working parts of the machine are supported on a suitable framework,which for convenience may be divided into three sections 10, 11, and 12,the main or central section carrying the loom mechanism proper, thesection 11 the main portion of the powertransmitting devices andactuating-cam, and the portion 12 of the frame serving as a support forthe picket-feeding devices.

The main shaft of the machine carries fast and loose pulleys 16, havinga belting connection with any suitable source of power, and from thisshaft all portions of the mechanism are operated. This shaft carriesnear one end a pulley 17, that is connected by a belt 18 to a belt-wheel19 on a horizontally-disposed shaft 20, having bearings in the lowerportion of the section 11 of the frame. The shaft carries a pinion 21,that is constantly in mesh with a large gearwheel 22. This gear 22 iscarried by the maincam-shaft 23 of the machine. From the main gear-wheelmovement is imparted to the wire twisting devices and picketfeeder,while the cam-shaft is provided with a number of cams that serve toactuate and to properly time the movement of the picketclamps, feedingdevices, take-ups, tying mechanism, and the like.

Extending across the front of the main portion of the frame are twopairs of anglebars and 31, that are provided with bearings for a seriesof vertically-disposed spoolcarrying shafts 32, said shafts beingprovided with ball-bearings to permit easy running. To the lower end ofeach shaft is secured a miter-gear 34, the entire series of gearsintermeshing with miter-gears 35, that are disposed on a horizontalshaft 36, mounted in bearings near the bottom of the frame. At one endof the shaft 36 is a sprocket-wheel 37, that is connected by a link belt38 to a sprocket-wheel 39 on the shaft 23, so that the verticalspool-carrying shafts are driven continuously, it being noted, however,that the intermeshing gears 34 and are so arranged that adjacent shaftsrotate in opposite directions, respectively.

Each of the spool-carrying shafts is provided with a collar 40, carryinga pair of projecting pins 41, on which are mounted wirecarrying reels orspools 42, the latter being held from loose movement by leaf-springclamps 43, that are carried by the ends of the pins 41 and bear againstthe end flanges of the spools. It will be noted that the pairs of spoolsare arranged so that adjacent bars are at different levels and arearranged with their axes at ninety degrees from the inter vening bars,so that all of the spools may ro tate without danger of the wire of onepair becoming crossed or entangled with the wires of another air.

At the head of each of the spool-shafts 32 is a block 45, preferablyrectangular in form and having grooves in two opposed faces for thepassage of the wires from the-pair of spools carried by said shaft. Thewires are held under tension by plates 46, against which bear helicalcompression-springs 47, the stress of which may be adjusted bythumb-nuts 48, it being here observed that the tensional strain isexerted on the wire 9 itself and not on the wire through the spool, thusavoiding the disadvantages which occur from the binding of the'spool andthe tightening of the coils of wire thereon.

The inner walls of the front side bars of the section 10 of the frameare provided with inwardly-extendingbrackets 50, each pair of bracketscarrying a vertical rod 51, on which is guided a vertically-movableframe 52. These two frames 52 are connected to each other by atransversely-extending channelbar 53, which carries the twisters, andvertical movement is imparted to said bar 53 for the purpose ofelevating the twisters before the commencement of each twistingoperation and then gradually lowering the twisters as the operationprogresses, this being for the purpose of securing uniformity of twist.Between the upper set of angle-bars 30 and another pair of angle-bars56, also carried by the main frame 10, extends a pair of brackets 57,carrying bearings for ashaft 58, which is operated in the mannerhereinafter described. This shaft carries two arms 59, on which aremounted adjustable boxes 60, that are connected by links 61 to theverticallyslidable frames 52, the function of the shaft being toreciprocate the frame 52 and the twisters. Each twister comprises avertically-disposed tube 63, which is mounted on the bar 53 by aU-shaped bracket 64, the space between the arms of the bracket servingfor the reception of the hub portion of a sprocket-wheel 65, that isfirmly secured to the twister-tube, as by a set-screw 66. At

the top of the twister-tube is arranged a twister-block 67, that isrigidly secured within said tube and is provided with a plurality ofpairs of peripheral notches 68, three pairs of notches being shown inthe present instance. The two wires which form each longitudinal strandor cable pass through one pair of'notches, and after the walls of thenotches have become worn the twister-heads may be partly revolved inorder to bring a second set of notches into position for the receptionof the wires, and then the third set of notches may be used after thesecond set has become impaired. When worn out, the

block may be readily replaced by a new one.

The several sprocket-wheels are connected by a link belt 69, which runsto a driving-sprocket at the upper end of a shaft 71, that is verticallydisposed in bearings carried by the portion 11 of the frame. The lowerend of the shaft 71 is provided with a beveled pinion 72, thatintermeshes with a bevel-gear 73, the latter being carried by a shaft 74. The shaft 7 4 is provided with a pinion 75, that intermeshes with amutilated gear 76, arranged at one side of and preferably formedintegral with the gear 22. The pinion carries a lock 77, that engageswith the untoothed portion 78 of the mutilated gear in order to preventrotative movement of the pinion after the latter has moved from meshwith the teeth of said gear, so that the parts are preserved in properrelative position for rengagement when the mutilated gear is moved to asufficient extent. The pinion is rotated to the extent of a singlerevolution at each operation, and through the multiplying gears 73 and72 the twisters may receive four or five or six revolutions, as desired.

The successive pickets are fed into the shed on top of a series ofbrackets 80 and are guided to a central position within said shed byplates or tongues 81, that are carried by vertically-disposed pins 82,projecting from the bracket at the entrance end. These pins 82 may becircumferentially adjusted and locked in place by set-screws 83 in orderto accommodate pickets of different thickness.

After the pickets have been fed into the shed it is necessary to elevatethem to the a ex of the shed before the commencement or the twistingoperation, and to effect this a number of vertically-disposedpicket-raising bars 85 are'employed. These bars are carried by avertically-movable cross-bar 86. The bars or rods are threaded at thepoint where they extend through the cross-bar 86 and are provided withnuts 87 to permit adj ustment in accordance with the width of thepickets employed. The lower ends of the bars or rods extend throughguiding openings formed in brackets 88, that project from the upper setof channel-bars 30, and the upper ends of said bars or rods extendthrough guiding openings formed in brackets 90, that are carried byupper fixed crossbars 91 of the frame.

The shaft 58, hereinbefore referred to, is provided withforwardly-extending arms 93, carrying boxes 94, which may be adjustedlengthwise of said arm, and these boxes 94 are connected by links 95 tothe verticallymovable bar 86. The picket-raising bar and thetwister-raising bar being both connected to the same shaft are operatedsimultaneously, so that at the completion of the picketraising movementthe twisters are in posi tion to immediately commence the twistingoperation.

The brackets 80 are provided with openings for the passage of the upperends of the twister-head, and on each bracket is guided a pair ofclamping-jaws 92. The clamps are provided with base members 92, that.are held from vertical or lateral play by guidestraps 80, and theirverticalfaces are provided with detachable blocks 96, formed of hardenedsteel or other suitable material. These blocks are provided with grooves96 to receive the wires, and the lower portion of each groove isenlarged,.the walls being tapered, as indicated at 97, in order topermit the ready entrance of the wire and its rotative movement at thecommencement of the twisting operation. Each of the brack ets 80 isfurther provided with a pair of bearing-blocks 99 and 100, and saidblocks are arranged for the reception of shafts 101 1.02, that extendfor practically the full width of the main portion 10 of the frame. Toeach shaft a number of rocker-arms 103 are secured, there being a pairof rocker-arms in alinement with each pair of clamping-jaws. The upperends of the rocker-arms are pro vided with enlarged openings to permitthe free passage of pins 104, the inner ends of which are secured to theclamping-jaws, and between the rocker-arms and said jaws are arrangedhelical compression-springs 105, which tend normally to thrust the jawstoward each other, the movement being checked or limited by small pinsor lugs 106, that extend through the spring-carrying pins at pointsoutside the rocker-arms. lVhen these rocker-arms are moved in onedirection, they bear firmly against the springs and force the jawstoward each other under yielding pressure, so that the jaws may safelyengage pickets of varying width and firmly hold the same without dangerof breaking either the pickets or the jaws. In order to operate thejaws, the left-hand ends of the shafts are provided withinwardly-extending rocker-arms 108, that are connected to each other bya link 109, and the end of the shaft 101 carries a rocker-arm 110, thatis connected by a link 111, Fig. 14, to a rockerarm 112 on a shaft 113,that is mounted in suitable bearings in the portion 11 of the lIO &

frame. To this shaft 113, Fig. 1, is secured the lifter-pins 121 arewithdrawn wholly a rocker-arm 114, that is connected by an adjustablelink to a lever 116, fnlcrumed to the main frame. This lever 116 isoperated upon by a cam 117 on the shaft 23, the contour of the cam beingsuch as to operate the jaws at the proper time with relation to themovement of the feeding and wire-twisting mechanism. The construction ofthis portion of the mechanism is substantially the same as that shown inFigs. 8, 10, and 11, being merely for the purpose of connecting therock-shaft 113 to the operatingcam on shaft 23, and detailedillustration of this particular feature is not considered essential to afull understanding of the invention.

After the twisting operation has been completed it becomes necessary tofeed the completed fence upward one step, and for this purpose avertically-movable frame 120 is employed, said frame being provided witha plurality of pairs of pins 121, which engage under a picket and movethe whole fence upward and at the same time draw from the spools asuflicient quantity of wire to form the next shed. Each of the cables,formed of a pair of twisted wires, passes between a pair of pins, sothat the strain will be uniform.

The opposite ends of the frame 120 are secured to carriages 122, thatare slidably mounted on rods 123, the latter being secured to brackets124, that are carried by the vertical bars of the main portion- 10 ofthe frame. To impart vertical movement to these frames, a shaft ismounted in bearings to the rear of the frame 120 and is rovided withrocker-arms 126, that are connected by links 127 to the slidable frames122. The shaft 125 extends across a portion of the frame 11 and isprovided with a rockerarm 129, that is connected by an adjustable link131 to a lever 132, pivoted to the frame and under the control of a cam133, that is mounted on the shaft 23, the cam being of such contour asto raise and lower the frame 120 at proper intervals.

All of the pins 121 are connected to a bar 135, that extendshorizontally within the frame 120 and is acted upon by a number ofsprings 136, that tend to force the bar forward and the pins 121outward. The opposite ends of the bar 135 enter returning cams 138, thatare formed in plates 139, secured to the inner vertical walls of thefront bars of the frame 10, and, as will be noted on reference to Fig.13, the bar will be arranged in the forward portion of the cam-groove atthe starting of the upward movement and will continue therein and willhold the pins projected in picket-raising position until said bars passthe ends of switch-pins 140, that are so arranged at the top of eachcamgroove as to guide the bar 135 to the rear against the stress of thesprings 136, so that within the frame 120 and are retained therein untilthe frame is lowered to a position whleire the pins may project underthe next ic et.

p The shaft 58, which actuates the twisterheads and picket-lifters, isoperated from a cam 143, also carried by the shaft 23. This cam operateson a lever 144, pivoted to the main frame, and said lever is connectedby an adjustable link to a rocker-arm 146 on one end of the shaft 58.

In the operation of the mechanism as thus far described a picket is fedinto the open shed on top of the brackets 80, being guided to a centralposition by the plates 81, and the picket rests on these brackets untilengaged by the lifter-rods 85. As soon as movement is imparted to theshaft 58 from cam 143 both the lifter-rods 85 and the twisters start tomove upward, and a picket is forced up to the apex of the shed, whilethe twister follows in readiness to commence the twisting operation. Thecam 117 then operates through the mechanism previously described androcks the shafts 101 and 102, forcing the jaws inward against thepicket, the wires being received within the grooves 96, formed in thewear-plates 96 on the clamps. The twisters then start to operate, andthe twisting operation progresses as the picket-lifters andtwister-heads are lowered, until at the completion of the operation theparts are locked. The cam 133 then operates on the shaft 125, and thepins 121, previously projected beneath a picket, will elevate thecompleted fabric, forming another shed in readiness for the insertion ofanother picket.

The completed fabric passes upward over a revoluble guide 150 and passesto the rear of the machine,where it is collected in the form of a rollby an automatic take-up mechanism.

The single pickets to be fed to the sheds are supplied in consecutiveorder to a rail 152 and are there engaged and forced within the shed bya feeding-carriage 156.

The carriage-rail is in the form of an anglebar, and on the upper andhorizontal web thereof is a track 157 for the reception of a pair ofgrooved wheels 158, mounted on spindles 159 on the carriageframe. Thespindles 159 also carry smooth rollers 160, which run directly on top ofthe horizontal web of the angle-bar. The carriage-frame is provided witha hanger 161, carrying a small wheel 162, which runs against the lowerface of the horizontal web of the angle-bar in order to preventdisplacement of the carriage. Extending from one side of the frame is apivoted arm or link 164, that is connected to the upper end of arocker-arm 165, said arm being secured to a rock-shaft 166, that ismounted in suitable bearings in the portion 12 of the frame. Therock-shaft also carries a rocker-arm 167, that is connected by anadjustable rod 168 to a wrist-pin 169, that projects from the rear faceof a crank-disk 170, that is carried by a shaft 171, adapted to suitablebearings {in the frame. The shaft 171 is connected by a train of gearing172 to chains, so that the pickets may be fed in the direction of thecarriage-supporting bar 152.

In order to supply the feed-chains 180, an elevator 200 is employed,said elevator being in the form of inclined chains which serve a shaft173, which carries at its outer end a I to raise the pickets to a pointabove the bevel-pinion 174, that is arranged to intermesh with amutilated bevel-gear 175, that is carried by or forms a part of the maingearwheel 22. T e mutilated bevel-gear 175 has two active faces,separated by two blank spaces, and the toothed or active faces are so.proportioned with relation to the remaining gears that the operation ofeach will effect a half-revolution of the crank-disk and the rocker-arm165 will thereupon be carried the full limit of its stroke in onedirection or the other. The bevel-pinion carries a cam-lock 176, that isarranged to engage with looking devices 178, carried by the gear, forthe purpose of locking the picket-feeding mechanism from movementbetween intervals of operationof the gears.

The wrist-pin is so arranged that its stopping-points are in thehorizontal plane of the axis of the crank-disk, so that at thecommencernent of the feeding movement where the feed-carriage engagesthe end of the picket the operation will be comparatively slow, and thecarriage may engage the picket Without danger of jar or displacement.From then on the speed of the feed increases as the wrist-pin approachesthe vertical, and after that gradually decreases toward the completionof the feeding movement, at which time the movement is so gradual thatthere is no danger of feeding the picket farther than necessary.

The pickets are moved to feeding position by a pair of endlessfeed-chains 180, having horizontal runs at the top of the portion 12 ofthe frame, the lower runs of the chains being guided by sprocket-wheels182 and 183. It is only necessary for one of the chains to pass aroundthe sprocket-wheel 183, although the carrying-shaft 184 of the lattermay be extended and provided with two sprocketwheels for the purpose. Onthis shaft 184 is arranged a ratchet-wheel 185, the teeth of which arearranged to be engaged by a pawl 186, carried by a bar 187, that ispivoted on the shaft. The lower end of the bar 187 is connected bya-link 188 to a rocker-arm 189 on a horizontally-disposed shaft 190.This shaft extends across the frame 10 and partly across the frame 11and is provided with a rocker-arm 192, that is connectedby a link 193 toa lever 194, pivoted on the frame and under the control the shaft 23.

The cam 195 is so actuated as to effect rocking movement of the shaft190, and this movement is transmitted through the pawl-and-ratchetmechanism to the feedof a cam 195, mounted on I chains 180. The chains200 are mounted on sprocket-wheels, the upper ones being shown at 201and'being carried by a shaft 202, which also carries a sprocket-wheelfor the reception of a link belt 203. The lower end of the link belt 203passes around a sprocket-wheel 204, that is carried by a sleeve 206,which encircles a disk 205. This disk is arranged at one end of a shortshaft 206,

mounted in a suitable bearing 205 in the frame and provided at one endwith an opcrating-lever 210. The shaft 206 may be turned by means of theoperating-lever until the periphery of the sleeve 206 is moved intoengagement with a friction-pulley 208 on a suitable shaft 209, held inbearings in the lower portion of the frame.

At a point above the shaft 209 is arranged a shaft 212, that supportsthree pulleys 213, 214, and 215, the pulley 213 being connected by abelt 216 to a belt-wheel 216 on the shaft 209. The pulley 214 isconnected by a belt 218 to a belt-wheel 219 on the main or primary shaft15 of the machine.

The shaft 212 forms a pivotal support for a swinging frame 220, thatcarries at its upper end an arbor 221, on which is mounted a circularsaw 222. The shaft 221 also carries a pulley 223, that is connected tothe beltwheel 215 by a belt 224, so that the saw is constantly driven.The frame 220 is connected by a link 226 to a rocker-arm 227, carried bya rock-shaft 228, that extends across to the frame 11 and is thereprovided with a rocker-arm 229, that is connected by an adjustable link230 to a lever 231, pivoted to the frame and under the control of a cam232 on the shaft 23. The cam 232 actuates the saw-frame in such manneras to move the saw across the line of each successive picket, so thatthe end of the pickets will be trimmed and made of uniform length. Whilethe saw is constantly running, it is only moved into engagement with thepickets at intervals, and there is very little wear or friction on thesaw.

In mounting the several levers 116, 132, 144, 194, and 231 a stationaryshaft 240 is employed, and on each lever is an adjustable box 241, whichforms the connection between the lever and its adjustable link. Byvarying the positions of the several boxes 241 with respect to thecenter of movement of the levers the throw may be altered to any desiredextent. The opposite ends of the levers are bifurcated, and each carriesan antifriction-roller 242 for engagement by its operating-cam.

' guides At the rear of the machine are alined shafts 251 and 252 forthe reception of a winding shaft or roller 253, on which the finishedfence may be wound, the shaft or roller 253 being detachable, so that itmay be readily removed to form the core of a complete roll. At the outerend of the shaft 251 is secured a ratchet-wheel 254, that is engaged bya pawl or pawls 255, carried by a bracket 256, projecting from the framefor the purpose of preventing reverse movement of the ratchet-wheel.Pivoted loosely on the shaft 251 is a lever 257 that is arranged outsidethe ratchet-wheel and carries a strap 258, that encircles theratchet-wheel, and between the strap and the lever are pivoted pawls259, which engage with and impart the take-up movement to theratchet-wheel, the take-up being automatically adjustable during theoperation of the machine in order to compensate for the gradual increasein the diameter of the roll of fencing.

Mounted on the lever 257 are two slideblocks 260 261, that are rigidlysecured to gether by bolts 262. The upper of these blocks carries awrist-pin 263, that is'con nected by a rod or link 264 to an operatingmechanism which receives uniform movement and transmits uniformmovement, provision being made for gradually increasing the distancebetween the wrist-pin and the axis of the shaft 251 in order togradually lessen the movement imparted to the ratchetwheel in proportionto the increase in diameter of the roll of fencing.

The lever 257 is provided with upper and lower bearings for thereception of a shaft 266, that is arranged parallel with the lever andis threaded for the greater portion of its length. At the upper end ofthis shaft is secured a friction or gear wheel 267, that constantlyengages with the face of the ratchetwheel 254 and receives motiontherefrom. The lower block 261 carries a half-nut 268, which may bereadily moved to and from engagement with the threaded portion of theshaft 266. When in engagement with this shaft, the turning of the latterat each partial movement of the ratchet-wheel will gradually raise thestructure formed by the blocks 260 261 and rods 262, so that thewrist-pin 263 will be gradually moved away from the axis of shaft 251,and this will of course result in gradual decrease in the extent ofmovement imparted through the pawls 259 to the ratchet-wheel.

At a suitable point on each side of the shaft 23 are arranged brackets270, that form for the arms 271 of a yoke 272, that surrounds the shaft23 and is arranged to be engaged by an antifriction-roller 27 3, carriedby a pin that projects from a crank-disk 274 on the shaft 23, the yokehaving wear-plates 275, arranged at diagonally opposite points of theyoke and adapted to be successively engaged by the antifriction-roller273 Projecting from a bracket 277 on the frame is a pin 278, on which ispivoted a lever 279, that is connected by a link .280 to one of the arms271. The arm 279 is provided with an elongated slot in which is mounteda slidable block 281, that is swiveled to the lower end of a screw 282,the screw being readily turned in order to raise or lower said block.This block is connected to the inner end of the rod or link 264, throughwhich motion is imparted to the take-up, and by altering the position ofthe block the extent of movement imparted to the wrist-pin 263 may beincreased or diminished.

I claim 1. In a wire-fence machine, a picket-feeding means, meansformoving the pickets into the apex of the shed, a twister arranged to holdthe wires spread to form such shed, means for clamping the successivepickets and the wires, and means for moving the twisters away from thepickets during the twisting operation.

2. In. a wire-fence machine, means forfeeding pickets, means for movingthe pickets into the apex of the shed, twisters, means for operating thetwisters, means for clamping the wires on the successively-fed pickets,and means for effecting gradual spacing of the twisters and the picketduring the progress of the twisting operation.

3. In a wire-fence machine, a shed-forming means including twisters,means forfeeding pickets into the shed, means for moving the picketsinto the apex of the shed, means for clamping the wires on thesuccessively-fed pickets, means for revolving the twisters, and I meansfor gradually and the twisters as progresses.

4. In a wire-fence machine, a shed-forming means including twisters,pickets into the shed, means for moving the pickets into the apex of theshed, means for clamping such pickets, means for raising the twistersclose to the clamped picket, and means for revolving the twisters,

5. In a wire-fence machine, the combination with. a picket-feedingmeans, of a pair of clamps, clamp-operating means including springsthrough which yielding pressure is exerted on the clamps, and detachablewearblocks carried by such clamps and having grooved picket-engagingfaces for the reception of the wires.

6. In a wire-fence machine, the combination with a picket-feeding means,of picketseparating the pickets the twisting operation clamps, andwear-blocks carried by thev clamps, said blocks having wire-receivinggrooves, and the end portions of such grooves being tapered to permitinitial twisting of the wire.

means for feeding 7. In a wire-fence machine, a picket-lifter mechanismcomprising a movable bar or frame, a plurality of picket-engaging pins,a bar carrying such pins, and a return-cam for moving said bar andengaging and disengaging the pins and pi ckets.

8. In a wire-fence machine, a picket-lifter mechanism comprising aframe, a plurality of pins supported by the frame, a bar secured to allof said pins, a pair of cams in which the opposite ends of said bars areentered, a spring tending normally to throw the pins outward intopicket-engaging position, and switch members at the upper portions ofthe cams for permitting the Withdrawal of said pins from engagement withthe pickets.

9. In a wire-fence machine, a main gearwheel, arranged to revolve oncefor the introduction of each picket and each twisting operation,mutilated gears carried by said main wheel, a picket-feeding devicereceiving motion from one of said mutilated gears, and atwister-actuating device arranged to receive motion from the secondmutilated gear.

10. In a Wire-fence machine, the combination with the picket-feedingdevices, of twisters, means for revolving the twisters, means for movingthe pickets into the shed, a take up means for feeding the finishedfence, a saw for trimming the pickets, a cam-shaft, a plurality of camsmounted on said shafts, and levers arranged to be operated upon by thecams, said levers being connected to the twisting, picket-lifting,picket-feeding, and sawing mechanisms, and serving to operate the sameinproper order.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afIiXedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EMMETT WICKIIIFF GHANNELL.

Witnesses:

J. W. WETHERILL, M. O. SIMMONS. j

